<4th SME Business Condition Survey in FY2025> GX Awareness Below 30%, 64.3% Not Yet Started
A survey by FORVAL GDX Research Institute reveals that only less than 30% of SMEs are aware of Green Transformation (GX), and 64.3% have not yet started initiatives. Low priority and resource shortages are key challenges in promoting GX.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: March 30, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: March 30, 2026 at 22:56 (3h 56m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 21, 2026 at 13:31 (518h 35m after Collected)
FORVAL GDX Research Institute (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Director: Manabu Taira), which aims to transform small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by leveraging Green and Digital technologies, conducted the "4th SME Business Condition Survey in FY2025" targeting SMEs.
In April 2026, the GX-ETS (Emissions Trading Scheme), which puts a price on greenhouse gas emissions, will commence. Although the scheme primarily targets emitters above a certain scale, its impact may extend to SMEs through responses across the entire supply chain and requests from business partners. However, this survey revealed that awareness of GX among SMEs remains insufficient, with 70.3% of companies stating they "don't know" or "have heard of it but don't know well," and 64.3% have not yet started their initiatives. Efforts such as measuring emissions and disclosing information are also limited to a few. This report organizes and clarifies the current status of GX awareness and initiatives among SMEs, specific implementation details, and challenges in promotion, ahead of these changes in the regulatory environment.
## Survey Results Summary
- GX awareness remains low, below 30%. The low "priority and necessity" continues to be a barrier to starting. The most common reason for not acting is "other issues that need to be prioritized." This suggests that GX may be recognized as a management issue later than DX.
- Challenges in promoting GX initiatives include "difficulty in measuring effects" and "lack of resources." Environmental development beyond self-sufficiency is necessary. In addition to securing specialized personnel and budgets, building a cross-organizational collaboration system that considers the entire supply chain is indispensable.
- Companies that are further along in their initiatives feel the effects more. Over 80% are positive about future promotion. 66.7% of companies that have progressed to business reform responded that they will "focus and promote." Practice creates a positive cycle that boosts motivation.
[Survey Overview]
- Survey Body: FORVAL GDX Research Institute
- Survey Period: January 14, 2026 - February 13, 2026
- Survey Target: SME managers nationwide
- Survey Method: Web-based questionnaire, analysis of responses
- Valid Responses: 1,647 people
When using the survey results from this press release, please be sure to credit "Survey by FORVAL GDX Research Institute."
Q1. GX Awareness
Keywords: GX, FORVAL, Forval, gdx, GDX Research Institute, SMEs, DX promotion, management, survey, GX-ETS
In April 2026, the GX-ETS (Emissions Trading Scheme), which puts a price on greenhouse gas emissions, will commence. Although the scheme primarily targets emitters above a certain scale, its impact may extend to SMEs through responses across the entire supply chain and requests from business partners. However, this survey revealed that awareness of GX among SMEs remains insufficient, with 70.3% of companies stating they "don't know" or "have heard of it but don't know well," and 64.3% have not yet started their initiatives. Efforts such as measuring emissions and disclosing information are also limited to a few. This report organizes and clarifies the current status of GX awareness and initiatives among SMEs, specific implementation details, and challenges in promotion, ahead of these changes in the regulatory environment.
## Survey Results Summary
- GX awareness remains low, below 30%. The low "priority and necessity" continues to be a barrier to starting. The most common reason for not acting is "other issues that need to be prioritized." This suggests that GX may be recognized as a management issue later than DX.
- Challenges in promoting GX initiatives include "difficulty in measuring effects" and "lack of resources." Environmental development beyond self-sufficiency is necessary. In addition to securing specialized personnel and budgets, building a cross-organizational collaboration system that considers the entire supply chain is indispensable.
- Companies that are further along in their initiatives feel the effects more. Over 80% are positive about future promotion. 66.7% of companies that have progressed to business reform responded that they will "focus and promote." Practice creates a positive cycle that boosts motivation.
[Survey Overview]
- Survey Body: FORVAL GDX Research Institute
- Survey Period: January 14, 2026 - February 13, 2026
- Survey Target: SME managers nationwide
- Survey Method: Web-based questionnaire, analysis of responses
- Valid Responses: 1,647 people
When using the survey results from this press release, please be sure to credit "Survey by FORVAL GDX Research Institute."
Q1. GX Awareness
Keywords: GX, FORVAL, Forval, gdx, GDX Research Institute, SMEs, DX promotion, management, survey, GX-ETS